CAMDEN — A freshening breeze, cool temperatures and full sun kept the black flies at bay, all good for the runners who took off up Ragged Mountain in 9 and 10 a.m. heats for the annual 5K Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge, held May 23 at the Camden Snow Bowl.

Taking first place, for the second year in a row, was Camden’s Jack Hauprich, 22, who established a substantial lead in the first leg of the obstacle course race, which sent runners up the Kuller Tacks, a trail on the east side of the mountain.

The woods were quiet, except for the pounding feet of 58 runners. Once they got to to the top of the hill, though, whoops and hollers began, as the hardest of the obstacles of this unique 5K were tackled.

Hauprich beat his own time from the 2014 Run For Your Life by eight minutes, finishing the course this year 36:58.94 minutes.

And again, like last year, close behind him was his friend Caleb Pease, of Appleton, barely three minutes behind.

Leading the women was Emily Lopez, of Camden, who completed the course in 42 minutes and 44 seconds.

In 2013, Hauprich ran the course in 43 minutes and 21 seconds.

The speediest runner that year was Morgan Laidlaw, of Camden, who made his way through the muddy course in 40 minutes, 14 seconds. 

This year, the course sent runners up the mountain to the top of the triple chairlift. There, they climbed ropes that were hanging from the lift stanchions, rang a ceremonial bell, drank sports water, had a snack of sesame and kale crackers, before taking off back down the mountain at full bore.

They crawled under barbed wire, slid down the last little bit of snow on Mussel Ridge and then headed for the woods to carry buckets of sand and pull cement bags into the sky. 

The final obstacle was the traditional leap-over-raging fire down at the bottom of the hill, in front of the Camden Snow Bowl lodge.

The adventure race began at 9 a.m. with intrepid runners steering toward the toboggan chute in the first of a two-heat event. 

Following behind Hauprich and Pease were:

Ronald Stevenson, 40:5.51

Alex Winn, 42:44.91

Emily Lopez, 42:46.12

Ryan Graffam 43:42.59

Shawn St. Cyr, 46:35.96

Gabe Wright, 47:16.32

Brandon Graffam, 49:41.12

Taylor-Jo Quint, 50:43.26

Nick LeClerc, 51:18.58

Alex Copeland, 55:00.78

Benjamin Flood, 55:01.67

John Golder, 55:40.72

Chris Chocan, 56:04.40

Jamie Pickering, 56:28.54

Miranda Lambert, 56:34.13

William Smith, 56:51.12

Dana Rader, 58:28.79

Rob Jones, 59:51.69

Randy Markham, 60:13.25

Chris Smith, 60:10.71

Alexa Wagner, 60:10.71

Angela Weston, 60:13.53

Chris Roman, 60:14.49

Amanda Corson, 60:41.22

Steve Corson, 60:41.85

Erin Walls, 60:46.61

Bryant Walls, 60:46.94

Karrah York, 60:40.66

Lucy Hayward, 60:41.86

Ben Powell, 60:51.73

Chris Mulvihill, 60:20.32

Emily Mulvihill, 60:24.66

Penny Flood, 60:24.66

Gabrielle Schrage, 60:55.07

John Bagley, 60:00.14

Rachel McCabe Libitzki, 60:17.50

Rhonda Reardon, 60:17.50

Thomas Reardon, 60:17.50

Leslie Denton, 60:28.40

Adam Audette, 60:15.64

Kassie Conlogue, 60:22.89

Richard Beaudoin, 60:12.53

A.J. Chase, 60:30.58

Jennifer Novicka, 60:28.12

Michele Butler, 60:32.59

Hope Butler, 60:37.13

Dannielle Folsom, 60:08.40

Shawn St. Cyr, 60:45.70

Heather Sayles, 60:02.21

Cameron Nelder, 60:04.25

Jesse Poulin, 60:55.89

Amanda Kinsey, 60:04.63

Carrie Davis, 60:58.10

Sharon Adams, 60.02

It was a day on the mountain with friends and coworkers, as firefighters from Trenton ran with Pen Bay Medical Center physical therapists and local 20-somethings, a day when children tackled their own obstacle course on the lower part of the hill, and a day filled with good humor and encouragement as participants all tested their own personal physical endurance.

Married couples, friends, professional colleagues and brothers ran the race, some in teams, some individually. All were smiling — and out of breath — by the time they hit the last obstacle, which required a leap over a burning fire.

“A great day, full of energy and enthusiastic runners,” said Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley. “We helped to raise the awareness for people to serve with their hometown emergency service agencies. Thanks to all the participants, sponsors and volunteers for helping make this a successful event. We hope to have some exciting news to share in the near future about plans for next year’s event.”

The Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge is a popular 5K organized by Midcoast first responders, and sends runners of all ages — from teenagers to those in their mid-60s — and abilities over a rugged course.

The Challenge appeals to the seasoned triathlete, as well as the novice runner, and presents challenges such as “Blazing Forearms,” “Bucket Brigade,” “Rescue Sandy” and other obstacles that are inspired by situations that firefighters, EMTs and rescue personnel encounter in their work.

The goal of the race is the heighten awareness of the need for more community involvement in local emergency services, whether volunteer or career.

The Run For Your Life is also held to encourage all runners, from all walks of life, to challenge their personal best.

See photos from 2014 and 2013 annual Run For Your Life Emergency Service Challenge here.